God's joy isn't just a nice feeling - it's the fuel that powers you through life's greatest challenges. (law Lost for 60-100 years) They found it rebuilding the temple, Ramifications of no law is people just did what they wanted… what felt right, what seemed right.

Nehemiah 8:2-10

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ 

"The joy of the Lord is your strength." – Nehemiah 8:10

Happiness depends on what happens to you. Joy depends on what Jesus did for you.

• Happiness is external – it comes from good circumstances

• Joy is internal – it comes from your relationship with Christ

• Happiness is temporary – it changes with your situation

• Joy is permanent – it's rooted in eternal truth

A thermometer vs. a thermostat. Happiness is like a thermometer – it just reflects the temperature around it. Joy is like a thermostat – it actually changes the temperature of the room

• Kellie is a thermostat… not a thermometer.

• Peggy After her husband suddenly died… 22,000 patients visited

• My friend Chuck when he lost his Job… I suppose I will just be working here every day till I get a paying gig….

"You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence." – Psalm 16:11 ESV

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:4-9

3 sources of Joy:

• God’s Presence 

God is the most joyful being in the universe…  Think of some of the most joyful things you can see or here (Tunnelview, beach in Cabo, Lauderbrunene valley in Switzerland, A baby laughing) God experiences those every moment all day…. Everything beautiful and good in the whole univers. He experiences it. The joy is brings….

We pay a lot of money to get it for a moment… a fake version of it… anything that remotely tastes like joy

"All of the good and beautiful things from which we occasionally drink tiny droplets of soul-exhilarating joy, God continuously experiences in all their breadth and depth and richness."Dallas Willard 

• God’s Promises

His promise is a true north when your world gets rocked….

“Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:50

• God’s Purpose

"These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete." – John 15:11

How to experience more Joy:

• FOCUS on what God has done, not what you lack

• FELLOWSHIP/COMMUNITY with other believers

• SERVE others sacrificially

• CHOOSE joy daily (Our Value of Fun, Joy in your habits like giving)

Sin, shame life is gravity… it pulls all of us down, but joy is like a rope from heaven we can hold onto when things are trying to take you down. Its hard to hold onto. But every time you hold onto the promises of God, its like you get to tie a knot. And you collect these knots over the years. So the longer you follow Christ, the more knots you have to grip. The harder it is for things and people to tke you down and steal your Joy

The Joy of the Lord is your strength

1. JOY IS DIFFERENT FROM HAPPINESS

2. THE SOURCE OF TRUE JOY 5 min
3. HOW TO EXPERIENCE MORE JOY

JOY is like a ROPE…

Sin, shame life is gravity… it pulls all of us down, but joy is like a rope from heaven we can hold onto when things are trying to take you down. Its hard to hold onto. But every time you hold onto the promises of God, its like you get to tie a knot. And you collect these knots over the years. So the longer you follow Christ, the more knots you have to grip. The harder it is for things and people to tie you down and steal your Joy